Kate Forbes MSP welcomes plans for new Culbokie bus service

The constituency MSP for the Black Isle has welcomed the prospect of a new peak-time bus service from Culbokie to Inverness.

Kate Forbes MSP, who has been campaigning for 18 months to reinstate a bus for Culbokie commuters, said it was excellent that Stagecoach were considering adapting their timetable to bring in a new 22 service.

The Black Isle village with a population of roughly 1,000, has been without a bus service since April 2017 as a result of Highland Council re-tendering decisions. Culbokie was last year named as one of the worst areas in Scotland for transport poverty.

Kate Forbes MSP said: “This is excellent news for those who rely on public transport to and from Inverness.

“I myself have travelled on the current service between Culbokie and Inverness and it is far from ideal.

“Many people need to get to Inverness at peak times, either for education, employment or other reasons.

“I have been in extensive correspondence with Stagecoach, Highland Council and local residents about this for over a year and was getting increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress.

“This is excellent news and I hope that once and for all we can resolve this for the people of Culbokie.”

Ms Forbes also encouraged other residents in her constituency to get involved with Stagecoach’s current consultation on bus timetables, which runs until 16 November.

The MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch added: “I am delighted to see that there will be a better evening service to both Beauly and Muir of Ord.

“There are many people who rely on public transport at all times of the day, including the evening.

“We want more people to choose public transport to alleviate congestion and also because the more people that use public transport the more services that are supported.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to make their voices heard.

“The regularity and reliability of public transport is a matter that affects many people on the Black Isle and in Ross-shire and around Loch Ness.”

Changes to the bus timetables are expected to take effect from 7 January 2019.